Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Geochemical and isotopic (strontium, neodymium) data have been obtained from 24 samples of seven Late Cretaceous intrusions associated with skarn (Tincova, Bocşa, Ocna de Fier – Dognecea) and porphyry copper-molybdenum/skarn deposits (Oraviţa, Ciclova, Sasca and Moldova Nouă) in the South Carpathians of Romania. The intrusions cut the Supragetic-Getic nappes and form a 100-km-long, NNE-SSW-trending lineament in the Banat metallogenic province. The samples range in composition from gabbro to granodiorite and define, in major and trace element variation diagrams, a calc-alkaline to high-potassium calc-alkaline trend ranging from 50 to 67% SiO2. They are magnetite-bearing, I-type granitoids enriched in LILE/LREE and depleted in Nb, Ta and Zr, common features for magmas associated with subduction zones. The lack of cumulate textures and of positive europium anomalies seems to indicate that the samples represent liquid compositions. The observed trend thus approximates a liquid line of descent resulting from fractional crystallisation of parental magmas with similar major and trace element compositions. Initial strontium isotopic ratios (Sri) vary from 0.7042 to 0.7058 and εNd(t) values range from +3.9 to –0.2. Variations of Sri and εNd(t) values with SiO2 show minor crustal assimilation. The generally positive εNd(t) values, together with moderate Sri, indicate that the parental magmas result from partial melting of a rubidium-enriched and LREE-depleted source, such as a heterogeneous lithospheric mantle or a young mafic lower crust derived from it. Selective rubidium enrichment probably occurred during a previous subduction event by metasomatism of the overlying mantle wedge, either in the Early Cretaceous or earlier, as suggested by TDM model ages (ca. 600 Ma). The Cu-Mo(-Pb-Zn-Fe) deposits are intimately associated with the intrusions, and the Banat (Romania) region can be subdivided in two metallogenic zones. In northern Banat, Fe-Cu-Pb-Zn skarns occur whereas in southern Banat, porphyry-style copper and molybdenum deposits predominate. These differences result from a combination of several parameters: (1) magma composition, whereby copper- and molybdenum-rich deposits tend to be associated with calc-alkaline compositions; (2) an increase of the present-day erosion level, from south to north, as indicated by the presence of large equigranular plutons in northern Banat, and of porphyritic cupolas and apophyses associated with porphyry-style mineralisation in southern Banat; (3) the nature of the host rocks, with skarns preferentially developed in calcareous host rocks; and (4) local variations of conditions controlling the infiltration of fluids and the precipitation of ore minerals.

Die Vererzung im Örsdalen (Rogaland), Norwegen tritt innerhalb einer migmatitischen Gneis-Serie auf, welche durch zahlreiche graphitführende Amphibolit-Horizonte gekennzeichnet ist. Die Erze liegen schichtgebunden in einem der graphitführenden Amphibolite. Die Zufuhr der metallhaltigen Lösungen erfolgte in der gleichen Periode, in der auch das Ausgangsmaterial der heute in engster Verknüpfung mit dem Erzbestand auftretenden Amphibolite als vulkano-sedimentäres Material zugeführt worden ist. Intensive orogenetische Prozesse führten zu einer isochemischen Umwandlung des Erzbestandes. Die Annahme einer Beteiligung von metasomatisch-hydrothermalen Metallzufuhren aus unbekannten Tiefen erübrigt sich.

The San José district is located in the northwest part of the Deseado massif and hosts a number of epithermal Ag–Au quartz veins of intermediate sulfidation style, including the Huevos Verdes vein system. Veins are hosted by andesitic rocks of the Bajo Pobre Formation and locally by rhyodacitic pyroclastic rocks of the Chon Aike Formation. New 40Ar/39Ar constraints on the age of host rocks and mineralization define Late Jurassic ages of 151.3 ± 0.7 Ma to 144.7 ± 0.1 Ma for volcanic rocks of the Bajo Pobre Formation and of 147.6 ± 1.1 Ma for the Chon Aike Formation. Illite ages of the Huevos Verdes vein system of 140.8 ± 0.2 and 140.5 ± 0.3 Ma are 4 m.y. younger than the volcanic host rock unit. These age dates are among the youngest reported for Jurassic volcanism in the Deseado massif and correlate well with the regional context of magmatic and hydrothermal activity. The Huevos Verdes vein system has a strike length of 2,000 m, with several ore shoots along strike. The vein consists of a pre-ore stage and three main ore stages. Early barren quartz and chalcedony are followed by a mottled quartz stage of coarse saccharoidal quartz with irregular streaks and discontinuous bands of sulfide-rich material. The banded quartz–sulfide stage consists of sulfide-rich bands alternating with bands of quartz and bands of chlorite ± illite. Late-stage sulfide-rich veinlets are associated with kaolinite gangue. Ore minerals are argentite and electrum, together with pyrite, sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite, minor bornite, covellite, and ruby silver. Wall rock alteration is characterized by narrow (< 3 m) halos of illite and illite/smectite next to veins, grading outward into propylitic alteration. Gangue minerals are dominantly massive quartz intergrown with minor to accessory adularia. Epidote, illite, illite/smectite, and, preferentially at deeper levels, Fe-chlorite gangue indicate near-neutral pH hydrothermal fluids at temperatures of >220°C. Kaolinite occurring with the late sulfide-rich veinlet stage indicates pH < 4 and a temperature of <200°C. The Huevos Verdes system has an overall strike of 325°, dipping on average 65° NE. The orientations of individual ore shoots are controlled by vein strike and intersecting north-northwest-striking faults. We propose a structural model for the time of mineralization of the San José district, consisting of a conjugate shear pair of sinistral north-northwest- and dextral west-northwest-striking faults that correspond to R and R′ in the Riedel shear model and that are related to master faults (M) of north-northeast-strike. Veins of 315° strike can be interpreted as nearly pure extensional fractures (T). Variations in vein strike predict an induced sinistral shear component for strike directions of >315°, whereas strike directions of <315° are predicted with an induced dextral strike–slip movement. The components of the structural model appear to be present on a regional scale and are not restricted to the San José district.